Air Force officials have said they’re reconsidering the move, which is opposed by delegations from all Gulf Coast states.

“The loss of the (136th Airlift) Wing’s C-130s would remove a powerful airlift asset that in the past has saved the lives of citizens along the Gulf Coast who have found themselves in harm’s way,” the letter reads. “We are troubled that the Air Force has neither responded to our letter nor provided any additional insight behind the strategy for this proposed move during congressional hearings.”

The letter also notes that the delegation “fully supports” the Air Force’s decision to base a MC-12W Liberty fleet in Texas, and mentions Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston as one of several Texas installations near the border that have adequate capacity to host the MC-12W, the Air Force’s newest intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft.

“However, the MC-12 basing in Texas must not come at the expense of the C-130s, which are of critical importance,” the letter reads.

We strongly oppose the Air Force’s proposal to uproot from Fort Worth the well-established and world-class military airlift capability of the 136th Airlift Wing, and we write to ask for your personal attention to ensure this proposal is not executed. The Air Force plan to take away the Wing’s eight C-130H2 aircraft will burden taxpayers with unnecessary costs and negatively impact mission readiness. We remain troubled by the Air Force’s lack of justification for this proposed action and the fact that no business-case analysis was conducted prior to the decision being made. More broadly, we have serious concerns about the unequal and unjustified cuts the Air Force proposes to make to the entire Air National Guard as part of the FY13 budget request.

The 136th Airlift Wing, as one of the most capable and experienced airlift organizations in the entire Air Force, has a proven record of performance in both overseas and domestic missions. It is a significant asset to the nation in support of global military operations. Since 9/11, the unit has conducted 6,536 combat and 1,321 combat support sorties during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. In state and regional hurricane and other emergency responses, the 136th Airlift Wing has proven its worth time and time again. The loss of the Wing’s C-130s would remove a powerful airlift asset that in the past has saved the lives of citizens along the Gulf Coast who have found themselves in harm’s way. In addition, prior to 9/11 the wing conducted successful operations in the Balkans, Somalia, Haiti, Iraq, Kuwait, and Panama. All the while, the Wing has maintained one of the best safety records in the Air Force, executing over 176,000 flying hours without a major accident.

On February 21st, 2012, the 34-member Texas congressional delegation sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley expressing its united opposition to the Air Force plan. While our delegation has yet to receive an official response, Secretary Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz have appeared numerous times in recent weeks before House and Senate committees of jurisdiction and attempted to defend their plan. We are troubled that the Air Force has neither responded to our letter nor provided any additional insight behind the strategy for this proposed move during congressional hearings.

In order to address the problem that has been created by this unacceptable Air Force proposal, we ask you to consider a win-win solution that we have formulated. The basis for our proposal is our concern that the Air Force’s FY13 budget request is inconsistent with the new defense strategic guidance that you issued in January. Your strategic guidance, outlined in the document “Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense”, declares that a “strategic opportunity to rebalance the U.S. military investment in Europe” has been created, and that “in keeping with this evolving strategic landscape, our posture in Europe must also evolve”. It goes on to say that “whenever possible, we will develop innovative, low-cost, and small-footprint approaches to achieve our security objectives, relying on exercises, rotational presence, and advisory capabilities”. The U.S. Army received this guidance loud and clear and has begun to aggressively implement it, adjusting its force posture in Europe by decreasing its permanent footprint by two heavy brigades and instead establishing a new rotational presence.

In contrast, the Air Force has failed to explain how it plans to adjust its C-130 force posture in Europe in order to comply with your guidance. The Air Force, under the umbrella of United States Air Forces in Europe, continues to base 14 C-130Js at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Under the latest budget, the Air Force has no plans to adjust the force posture for these aircraft. Permanent basing of these aircraft in Europe is wholly inconsistent with the “small-footprint approach” and clear preference for “rotational presence”, as stated in your strategic guidance.

Therefore, we request the reassignment and transfer of these 14 C-130Js to the Texas Air National Guard’s 136th Airlift Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, which would represent a win-win for the warfighter, the citizens of the Gulf States, and other American taxpayers. The Texas Air National Guard has proven their willingness and ability to forward deploy aircraft on a rotational basis to Europe or any other location in the world. At the same time, this solution would save the Air Force money and assist it in complying with your new strategic guidance.

In addition, although we disagree on many aspects of the Air Force’s proposal, we fully support its decision to permanently base a fleet of MC-12W Liberty manned ISR aircraft in Texas. These aircraft can provide a critical tool in support of border security and Defense Support of Civil Authorities missions. There are several Texas installations in close proximity to the border that already have adequate basing capacity, including Ellington Field in Houston, which currently executes both Predator and RC-26 ISR missions. However, the MC-12 basing in Texas must not come at the expense of the C-130s, which are of critical importance.

We appreciate your prompt attention to the concerns we have raised and your consideration of this proposed solution. Thank you for your service to our men and women in uniform and our nation.